FICTION

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code

illus. by Katy Wu. 48p. bibliog. chron. further reading. Sterling. May 2017. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781454920007. POP
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Gr 2–4–Grace Hopper (née Murray), a girl with a keen mind and a determined attitude, grows up to become the "queen of computer code." Wallmark shares incidents and stories from the scientist's remarkable life that illustrate "Grace being Grace," and with these anecdotes, the author paints an engaging portrait of a unique woman in this bright and informative biography. At age seven, Hopper dismantled several clocks in her house to find out what made them tick. Finishing high school two years early, she overcame difficulties with Latin before she was admitted to Vassar College. Convinced she could make a difference to the war effort, Hopper enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and embarked on a lifelong military career writing computer programs. After finding a moth trapped inside a navy computer, she coined the phrase computer bug. Colorful and crisp digital illustrations accompany the text. The vibrant palette and straightforward composition are eye-catching, and Hopper's curiosity, love of learning, and ambition shine through in her expressive features. Be sure to examine the endpapers, which offer supplemental information.
VERDICT Inquisitive readers who, like Hopper, "want to understand how things work" will appreciate this upbeat biography of a woman who was ahead of her time. A sound purchase for most collections.

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